Paulo Nagamura and Atiba Harris gave Chivas USA a second-half lead, but the Los Angeles Galaxy came back to score a late goal on an Alan Gordon header in stoppage time as the teams played to a 2-2 draw before a sellout crowd Thursday at The Home Depot Center.
The game concluded the 2008 edition of the SuperClásico as the Galaxy reclaimed the trophy handed out annually to the series winner. Chivas USA took the series last year on the strength of two 3-0 wins down the stretch.
On Thursday, though, it was a different-looking lineup that had the challenge of toppling the Galaxy. Rookie Keith Savage as well as Daniel Paladini each started for the shorthanded Red-and-White, who were without the injured Claudio Suarez, Ante Razov, Jonathan Bornstein, Alecko Eskandarian and Jorge Flores as well as Olympian Sacha Kljestan, who touched down in Los Angeles at around 6:30 p.m. local time.
Cobi Jones was in his first game as interim head coach for the Galaxy, taking over for Ruud Gullit, who resigned at the beginning of the week. The main change Jones brought to the lineup was returning Landon Donovan to a forward role along with Edson Buddle, with David Beckham in a wide midfield spot.
It was Chivas USA nemesis Donovan who scored the game's first goal. Donovan beat Bobby Burling down the right flank and ran onto a long through ball from Chris Klein. Donovan darted into the area and beat Zach Thornton to the far post.
The goal was Donovan's 14th of the season, putting him back into the league lead, and his fourth this year against Chivas USA.
Minutes later, Justin Braun nearly equalized but he could not get his foot onto the end of a cross from Harris. In fact, Braun injured his ankle on the play and had to leave the game as Roberto Nurse replaced him in the 17th minute.
With the early goal, the game began to open up, but neither team was really able to find the target. The Galaxy had three good opportunities in short order, but first Donovan looped a high cross over the bar from close range, then Beckham put a long-range try over the bar with Thornton off his line.
Donovan then nearly dribbled through the Chivas team into the area, but missed the target with his try.
Chivas went close from both Nurse and Harris in response, but neither found the frame. Just before halftime, from a free kick out from the left post, Carey Talley put his attempt under the wall as it leaped, but Galaxy 'keeper Steve Cronin dove at full stretch to his left to tip aside the shot.
In the second half, it didn't take long for Chivas USA to equalize as Harris scored in the 50th minute to level terms. Paulo Nagamura started the play on the right flank as he whipped a ball to the center of the box. Nurse dummied the ball and let it slip past him, a move which froze defender Sean Franklin. With space in front of him, Harris unleashed a potent shot that went into the goal just underneath the crossbar.
The goal sent the pro-Chivas USA crowd into a frenzy as Harris ran to celebrate in front of a large swath of jubilant red-clad supporters. It goal was Harris' second of the season and first since the home opener on April 7 in a 3-1 win against Real Salt Lake.
The Galaxy nearly answered about one minute later when Beckham sprung Donovan on a quick counterattack. Donovan raced past Chivas USA's backline and into the penalty area. He evaded Zach Thornton but could not handle the ball with an empty net in front of him. Carey Talley eventually pounced on Donovan and forced him to pass to Ely Allen but the Galaxy rookie hit a weak shot that trickled harmlessly past the right post.
Former Galaxy midfielder Nagamura scored the go-ahead goal in the 63rd minute. Harris collected a long pass on the left side of the area, and cut toward goal. He saw Nagamura in behind the Galaxy's backline, and he turned onto Harris' feed and slipped it under Cronin from the top of the goal area.
The goal was Nagamura's second of the season and first-ever goal against his former club. With Kljestan and Razov out, Nagamura took on added offensive responsibilities and came through with an assist on the first goal and Chivas USA's second goal.
After the goal, Maykel Galindo replaced Savage as the Cuban striker appeared for the second time in three weeks.
Then, Nurse nearly put the game away for Chivas USA but his header attempt bounced off the left post.
With about 10 minutes to go, Jesse Marsch was forced to leave the field with a jaw injury, and as Chivas had used all three of their available substitutes, they were forced to finish the game a man down.
The Galaxy mounted a furious rally. With Carlos Ruiz and Alan Gordon off the bench, the Galaxy created several scoring chances. Mike Randolph hit the crossbar in the waning minutes.
But it was Gordon who finally found the back of the net two minutes into stoppage time. From a high Ante Jazic cross from the left, Gordon rose over the Red-and-White's backline and buried a header in the back of the net to give the Galaxy a late equalizer.
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
